Maternal Health Support Soars At The Q

From a table crammed with leaflets in the gymnasium at the Dixwell Community ​“Q” House, Sharnasia Booker watched a circus artist perform gravity-defying stunts on an aerial hoop, seemingly leaping through the air and taking flight — a representation of what young mothers and their children can do with the right support. 

Booker, a participant in a new maternal health program at the Q House, was among the representatives for the dozen area organizations at an event on Saturday afternoon celebrating Black and Brown mothers and raising funds for the program. Mind Blossom, Inc., the nonprofit that oversees the program as part of its efforts to provide mental health education and consulting, hosted.

“I’m happy to be here and I’m happy to be part of the program because I’m getting the support I need and I’m learning it’s OK to talk about what you’re going through, there’s no shame in that,” said Booker, as Beyoncé’s ​“Before I Let Go” pulsated through the brightly lit space. 

Next to Booker was Mind Blossom CEO Pernille Yilmam. ​“This is about taking care of one another and particularly our most vulnerable, so that they and their children can fly,” she said, gesturing at the aerialist. Yilmam, a Danish neuroscientist and mental health advocate, has been leading the program’s weekly sessions. 

Hannah Morillo-Galindo, a program assistant with UConn Extension’s Expanded Food and Nutrition Program, handed out flyers on shopping strategies for healthy eating. ​“We want to show this population that it’s easier to nourish their bodies and take care of themselves than it seems,” she said.

At a nearby table Halim Omar represented New Haven Bank, which has partnered with the maternal health program to provide guidance on ways to manage money and build up good credit, along with avoiding fraud and scams. ​“We believe financial wellness is a part of mental health,” said Omar, an assistant vice president and branch manager. 

Hena Yakoob and Adaobi Nwabuo, volunteers with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), offered another take. ​“Black and Brown women are particularly vulnerable,” said Yakoob, who, like Nwabuo, is a psychiatrist at the Yale School of Medicine. ​“We have research showing that population is 50 percent less likely to receive access to mental health care than the general population.”

Chantell Thompson, a co-facilitator with Mind Blossom’s maternal health program, presented Thompson’s Worth, a nonprofit she founded to offer life coaching in parenting skills, stress management, and self-care for young single mothers aged 14 to 25. 

“This is about breaking the cycles of hardship and empowering these mothers to set a positive example for their children through personal growth and development,” she said.

As the roughly 40 attendees milled about, enjoying the spread of baked chicken and homemade baked mac and cheese donated by Gorilla Lemonade and moving to the lively music, Laura Noe discussed Elena’s Light, a nonprofit named for founder Fereshteh Ganjavi’s young daughter that supports refugee women and children in the New Haven area. 

“A lot of refugee women arrive with trauma and mental health issues,” said Noe, a volunteer. ​“That goes to our mission of giving them a foothold here with programs like free in-home English language tutoring and driver’s license preparation and by helping them with child care and legal assistance.” 

At that moment, a young boy passed by on his way to the arts and crafts table, where a group of kids were drawing vibrant-colored pictures. Fateya Omer and Samiya Mohamed of the Yale Black Muslim Students Association looked on. 

“It’s up to us to get invested in community beyond Yale’s campus, to the people we can support,” said Omer, watching the boy take a magic marker and a blank sheet of paper, a smile on his face. ​“Outreach is critical, so these kids, and their mothers, have a chance to thrive.” 

Board of Alders President Tyisha Walker-Myers agreed. ​“At one time me being a young mom trying to figure it out, having access to a group like this would have been wonderful,” she said. ​“I was blessed with a great family, but that is not everyone’s reality in the community. This resource is unmatched and should be spread throughout the whole city.”